aldridge



T. c. ALDRIDGE.

Fireplace. 9

No. 91,059. 4 Patented June 9, I869.

mama I 5. BMW/25 5;;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. ALDBIDGE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. I

FIRE-PLACE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 91,059, dated June 8,1869.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAsO. ALDRIDGE, of St. Louis, in the county ofSt. Louis and State of Missouri, have made certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Grates; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of this invention is in the formation of the flue in thegrate-frame or gratefront, thereby permitting the grate and its basketto be set forward considerably farther than usual, and thus bringing theheat-source closer to the room, as well as causing a more advantageousreflecting-surface to be formed by the grate-back. Said nature isfurthermore in the arrangement of a series of perforations to feed airat proper points to the flame, and in a second series of perforations tocause the products of combustion to ascend properly along the slope ofthe grateback, all of which is now to be more fully explained.

To enable those herein skilled to make and use my said improvements, 1will now describe the same, referring to the accompany- 1ng-- Figure 1as an elevational front view; to Fig. 2 as a vertical sectionalelevation, showing the application of the features of this invention tothe ordinary form of fire-grate, as used in dwellings for heating.

In said figures, A represents the grate-basket, attached in thegrate-frame in about the usual manner. In order, however, that the airmayfreely have access to as large as possible a mass of fuel, I arrangethe grate-bars a of acurvature to return at as high a point on thegrate-back as may be practicable, generally as shown in Fig. 2.

In the rear of the grate-back B, I arrange the air-passage B, buildingthis in the wall in the usual manner, and to cause the air to enter Iarrange the perforations 1) below the grate-basket in the back B. Theair and dust from the grate-pans, thus drawn into the passage C, passesup and enters into the flamespace by the perforations b about on a linewith the top of the grate. By this means a strong draft of oxygen isgiven to the fuel,

causing an intense combustion. The products of said combustion pass upalong the grateback B, reaching the slope B Said slope projects forwardto the fluemouth 0. As before stated, to be in the nature of thisinvention, said flue-mouth is arranged in the grate frame or front D.

The frame D may be projected forward of the chimney-way in anyornamental form, thus giving room for the flue-mouth O and therising-flue O ascending herefrom.

In order that the products of the combustion may hug the slope B inrising, and in order to cause a perfect admixture of the gases, therebygiving a more perfect combustion, I arrange the perforations b at thelower edge of the sloping back B said perforations leading directly tothe chimney E. A small volume of the gases passes through said performtions, and thus creates cross and counter currents, in a mannerconducive to a proper ascent of the main volume of the products ofcombustion, and conducive, moreover, to a better consumption of thefuel. The gases enter the flue-mouth O, passing up in. the frameflue O,and therefrom to the chimney E.

By the arrangement of the flue-mouth G and flue G in the frame D, thegrate-back B B is brought forward to a closer than ordidary proximitywith the face-wall of the chimney. Moreover, the projection or framedflue 0 may serve as a shelf for connecting a pipe or heater to warmother apartments, and as, by its construction in the frame D, it isindependent of the chimney E, or any flue directly connected therewith,the gases may be conducted from said flue O O to any point deemedconvenient.

The rear of the flue O G is formed by the frame back-plate D. Said plateis bent to conform to the slope of the back B and affords a rest for thebrick or other materialof which the back B B is usually formed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. The grateA, back B, perforations b. passages B, perforations b and b and chimneyE, all arranged and acting substantially as set forth.

2. The back B B flue-mouth (J, and flue 0, when arranged in thegrate-frame D, and combined with the chimney E, substantially as setforth.

3. The fine 0 0, frame D, and back-plate D, combined with the back B Bsubstantially as set forth.

THOMAS C. ALDRIDGE.

WVitnesses GEO. P. HERTHEL, J r., WM. W. HERTHEL.

